Letters to the editor: Protection needed from health concerns on wind turbine sites

The new Wisconsin law PSC 128 ties the hands local governments and doesn't allow them to protect the health and safety of the citizens that they represent.

In March, Sen. Frank Lasee introduced Senate Bill 71.

This law would give local governments the ability to adjust industrial wind siting ordinances to protect local residents.

The bill has been referred to committee.

It's being held up by committee member Sen. Rick Gudex.

He's leaning against the bill and is standing in the way of moving this bill forward to a vote on the Senate floor.

The proposed Windy Acres project sits between the villages of Adell and Hingham, in a very populated rural area.

There are 532 families within one mile of this project. It's well documented that wind turbines adversely affect people when sited too close.

Infrasound, low frequency noise, and stray voltage, all associated with wind turbines, can harm people and affect property values two miles away.

It's imperative that local governments have to ability to adjust wind siting setbacks to protect their residents. This basic right and responsibility is available in every other state except Wisconsin. Job creation is a top priority for the state.

However, the safety of Wisconsin's citizens should not be compromised for the sake of a few temporary construction jobs.